Towing hard dinghy

[EClaire]

I have a hard dinghy that I want to tow behind my 33-ft sailboat. We have a stern-hung rudder, so it can''t run from a cleat at the center of the stern. Do you recommend nylon line w/floats, polypropylene w/nylon jacket (New England Ropes sells it), or polypropylene? Do you think it matters whether I run it from just one stern cleat, off-centered, or should I make a "Y" from both stern cleats, joining somewhere aft of the boat & running to the dinghy towing eye? (Or run both stern lines directly to the towing eye?) I''d appreciate any advice, Thanks.

[hamiam]

I use two lines secured at the corners of the stern of my sailboat leading back to the dingy. This way you can adjust one line or the other depending on the tack you are on. Personally I use a towing bridle made of webbing and a float connected to two docklines. I take the dingy right up to the stern whenever I have the motor on so as not to run over the lines. A floating line is a good idea to prevent this from happening.

[geohan]

We routinely tow a 9'' Whitehall type dingy from the port quarter and on the face of the first stern wave. (The taffrail log streams from the stbd. quarter). In following seas we attach the bow painter to the lifeline stanchion about 6'' forward of the stern and attach a second line to stbd rail of the dingy about 4'' feet aft of the bow and to the stern cleat on our 30'' sailboat. Adjustment of the second line keeps the dingy on station off our port quarter. If a following sea causes the dingy to surf, it will surf along side and not bang into the transom.

[joub]

>>In following seas we attach the bow painter to the lifeline stanchion about 6'' forward of the stern and attach a second line to stbd rail of the dingy about 4'' feet aft of the bow and to the stern cleat on our 30'' sailboat.<<

Great idea! Thanks for passing it along!

Fairwinds,
Jim